After having survived the big crash of the German Celtic Circle Productions label 10 years ago with their previous music project The Dust Of Basement, two of the three members created and continued under the moniker Patenbrigade: Wolff. Initially started as a pure instrumental Electronica side-project, Patenbrigade: Wolff could immediately earn some attention and unexpected success in the last years. Time to introduce the members Lance Murdock and Sven Wolff as well as the ideals of the Patenbrigade: Wolff…

Chain D.L.K.: Hello guys, I guess I’ll start this with a blast from the past. You’ve been active musically with The Dust Of Basement, one of the very few acts, which could survive the demise of the German label Celtic Circle Productions. But at least not long enough, since you’ve stopped this project in 2005. What has happened that a further continuation of Dust Of Basement wasn’t possible?Patenbrigade: Wolff: The split was mainly due to personal reasons. After almost 15 years together the interests of DOB members had developed towards totally different directions, so that a further cooperation wasn’t possible any longer. Thus everyone is now living according to her or his conceptions.

Chain D.L.K.: “Turmdrehkran” is still witness of the past DOB-days, since this track got presented under DOB on the BLC Productions compilation “Annihilation & Seduction” in 2002. Most people would get nervous and stress-driven, if they have to endure the noise of a huge building site in their privacy. So how can this be inspirational for your music work?Patenbrigade: Wolff: A construction site next to our apartments we wouldn’t fancy neither. However, the observation of the elaborate operating sequences of the enormous construction machineries forms a big source of inspiration for us. They join exactly all the properties which constitute our music. The tower cranes feature power and precision and simultaneously emanate a kind of calm.

Chain D.L.K.: As been mentioned before, you’re rather producing instrumental Electronica-music and mostly you like to re-strange your vocals with effects and vocoders. No trust in the sound of your natural voice? Does this explain that you prefer the usage of guest vocalists like Sara Noxx for a few of your tracks?Patenbrigade: Wolff: Right from the beginning PbW was conceived as an instrumental project. The idea to work with guest singers arose later and quite spontaneously. One day Sara Noxx came into our studio with the lyrics for “Gefahrstoffe” and the words matched perfectly with the PbW track we were working on just at that moment. Nevertheless, we conceive ourselves as a sort of building site officers who stand in the background and supervise all the procedures on the construction site. To sing would be out of the question for us, because we would lose track.

Chain D.L.K.: Also striking in your music is the often happened use of originally quotations of the politically leaders of the past German Democratic Republic. That causes the impression, that you’re missing a bit the days of a separated Germany. But I guess you guys have hardly been witnesses of the building of the Berlin wall, so why this special dedication?

Patenbrigade: Wolff: Our own past in the GDR does definitely play a decisive role. We closely witnessed the measures and circumstances and already at that time we heard of people who fought with secret activities against the regime. It is these people the current album “Demokratischer Sektor” is dedicated to. Thus we got to know something about the revolts in East-Berlin in 1953. Those days the building workers fought against the poor life and working conditions in the GDR. However the revolt was defeated by tanks in a brutal way and unfortunately was forgotten afterwards. It was important to us to indicate this topic or to depict it somehow. Therefore, its absolutely not meant in a nostalgic sense.

Chain D.L.K.: Most of your tracks earn quite euphoric reactions, but was it required to praise the Russian dictator Josef Stalin through the chosen voice samples in “Stalinallee” that much? Why no words of criticism on his deeds and being?Patenbrigade: Wolff: “Stalinallee” was the name of a major street in the GDR (in Berlin). The meaning and connotation of the title becomes clear within the concept of the album. While the GDR government rendered homage to the dictator of the USSR with the dedication of an alley bearing his name, it is these building workers who’ve had to construct this alley that took to the streets and demonstrated against the regime established on his behalf.

Chain D.L.K.: The German company Trafö Transport & Fördertechnik GmbH hailing out of Wustermark has organized a forklift contest during the last year and you have been invited for a live performance. I think that this event was quite different compared to a usual gig. Please report of the details. How were the reactions on your performance?Patenbrigade: Wolff: Such a performance as at “Staplercup 2007″ in Wustermark is nothing to write home about for us. We often perform in front of a professional audience. Its advantage is that the people there do less care for the music as such, but rather look at the entire performance and analyze our acting and the lyrics which is not common for usual non-experts in the audience. We conceive gigs in front of professionals as being preparation for our regular concerts which are prosing a challenge again and again.

Chain D.L.K.: No more pro or con MP3-debate and digital downloads, but at least the situation for all bands as well as labels seems to be quite unclear. Nobody is currently able to say, in which kind, art and format this scene will continue. What do you expect from the future regarding coming formats, label and communities to release and present your music?Patenbrigade: Wolff: We’ve got a notion that the industrialization of music we’ve experienced mainly during the past 25 years will decrease with very positive results on music. The big major labels will disappear step by step and with them many people who produce music just because of the money will drop off. In the end this will turn out perfect for music in general, since there will be only musicians left who are truly dedicated to music with all of their heart and soul. At all times music will be listened to, enjoyed and also produced, because it is a basic need of mankind.

Chain D.L.K.: Please let us know about your upcoming plans, some remix works or a new release you like to confirm here?Patenbrigade: Wolff: Currently we are working on the new PbW album and we just contacted some new guest singers. Furthermore, various concerts such as on Summer Darkness Festival in Utrecht (NL) are planned.

Chain D.L.K.: Some final words to our readers to conclude this interview? Patenbrigade: Wolff: We would like to thank you all! Above all for listening! All the best for you.

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